Up from the Ash Heap (The Mountain Redemption Series Book 1); book #30

 

There were many things I liked about this book and a few I didn't.  I love how it follows the story of Ruth and Naomi, just set in a different time period.  However, they seemed to focus A LOT on the miserableness of Raye and Emeline and that was only sad sad sad.  I mean, you know somehow the good guy is going to come and rescue them, but when?!?  He doesn't show up until nearly the last 25% of the book. And I wondered how far they would take the "laying down and uncovering his feet" thing, I must say they took a lot of poetic liberty with that.  

There are two other books in the series, about the other two sister-in-laws, but I'm not sure if I'll read them or not.  I know others might, so I'll see if they think it is worth it.

Raya Applewood is always laughing, and as loyal as the day is long. But when a tragedy rips through the Applewood family leaving her husband and his two brothers dead, she has a difficult choice ahead. Should she go back East with her mother-in-law where she would face prejudice and hardship, or return to her father’s house? Either way, the road ahead is riddled with difficulties.  Atlas Fairbury is a wealthy businessman who never figured on marrying. But when a beautiful young widow enters his employment, her character, loyalty, and capacity for love turn his head. As he falls deeply for her, he wants to give her every good thing to make her life better. The only problem is, she feels unworthy of his love and incapable of receiving it. Raya appreciates everything Atlas has done for them and seeks to show her gratitude through her service. Working long hours to convey her thanks, she can’t understand why he’s displeased by her efforts. After both heartache and joy, Raya finds herself with another choice to make. This time, with all their futures hanging in the balance, she needs the guidance of Mother Emaline—and her Redeemer—to find her way forward.  Will Raya continue to only accept what she can earn, or will she finally realize that love has always been a gift freely given and receive it as such, allowing herself to be loved more fully than she could ever deserve? And if so, will she be too late?  (picture and description from Amazon)

I have started a fun little non fiction book I can't wait to share with you when I finish it.  And our Franklin Faculty Book Club has picked a book I can't wait to read!

Happy Reading!

Melissa

The Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak: Lessons on Faith from Nine BIblical Families, book #29

 

This book took me a while to get through, but it was really amazing and brought things I had never thought about:

 - It is through the bravery & sacrifice of Jochabed & Miriam that the entire story of Scripture unfolds.

 - At the heart of her story, although Naomi was grieving, she could see God's hand in her own life and in the lives of her people. So she stepped out in faith: she packed up to take her weary, grief stricken heart back to home to her people.

 - How long had it been since Zechariah had prayed for a son? Was there a point when he assumed it was no longer even worth asking? Are there hopes and dreams you've abandoned, things you prayed over for years and then put on a shelf for good? We often cannot see how God is weaving together the threads of our lives until long after the tapestry is complete. He may present you with an answer you never imagined decades after your original request.

 - As the man handpicked to lead the nation of Israel, David had once been humble and totally reliant of God. Let this be a bright red warning flag to every one of us. Just because we have walked closely with our heavenly Father, trusting Him through impossible challenges and seeing His faithfulness over and over again, does not mean we cannot fall into grievous sin.

God always keeps His promises, but not always in the way we expect….  “Have faith” is a phrase we hear all the time. But what does it actually look like to live it out? In The Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak, Shannon Bream examines the lives of biblical women to see how God’s plans can turn our worlds upside down.  She tells the story of Jochebed, a mother who took enormous risks to protect her son, Moses, from Pharaoh. Could Jochebed have imagined that God’s actual design for her son involved flight into exile and danger? And yet this was all part of the master plan to deliver Israel from slavery. Another biblical mother, Rebekah, made terrible choices in an attempt to ensure her son’s place in history. And a daughter, Michal, struggled to keep her faithless father, Saul, from sin, while battling pride in herself.  Through these stories, Shannon explains the intimate connection between faith and family—and how God’s unexpected agenda can redefine the way we think about family. Not all of these mothers and daughters in the Bible were paragons of virtue. Like us, they were human beings who faltered and struggled to do their best. While some heard God’s voice, others chose their own paths. Through the lens of their imperfections, we can see how God used their stories to bring about His divine plans. He’s still doing the same work in our lives today.  The Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak shows that faith is more often a twisting road than a straight line. Yet, as the stories of biblical families attest, at the end of these journeys lies greater peace and joy than we could ever imagine. (picture and description from Amazon)

I've already started our next book club ~ and it looks amazing!  I can't wait to share it with you!

Keep Reading, even when you are busy!  You need to escape :)

Melissa

All She Left Behind, book #28

 

Moving right along during my Reading Era this summer ...

Already well-versed in the natural healing properties of herbs and oils, Jennie Pickett longs to become a doctor. But the Oregon frontier of the 1870s doesn't approve of such innovations as women attending medical school. To leave grief and guilt behind, as well as support herself and her challenging young son, Jennie cares for an elderly woman using skills she's developed on her own. When her patient dies, Jennie discovers that her heart has become entangled with the woman's widowed husband, a man many years her senior. Their unlikely romance may lead her to her ultimate goal--but the road will be winding and the way forward will not always be clear. Will Jennie find shelter in life's storms? Will she discover where healing truly lives? (Picture and description at Amazon)

I'm really thinking the next one will for sure be a non-fiction.  

Summer is over for me, as the students where I work will be back on Monday.  I've been at work for three weeks, but it always still feels like summer because we wear shorts & messy clothes and doesn't really feel like real work.  (But trust me, it is! 😏)

What are you reading these days?

Melissa

Sunrise Reef (Hope Harbor #11), book 27

 

Sigh, I always love me some Hope Harbor!  Last night as I was going to bed I told Katie I was going to finish this book and I was going to be sad, because I always hate ending these.  I did find out she is writing another one, but it won't come out until next spring!

After years of searching, Bren Ryan has found her place in Hope Harbor. Working as a barista suits her to a T, as does the laid-back vibe of her adopted town. Nothing is lacking in her life--except romance. But that's okay. Men are a complication she doesn't need.  Buttoned-up CPA Noah Ward isn't looking for love, either, when he arrives in town on a mission to convince his father to move closer to him. And he certainly doesn't intend to fall for the quirky, free-spirited woman who's taken up residence in his father's guest cottage. But when he finds himself sucked into her quest to help a struggling teen, might the two of them discover there's more to each other than meets the eye?  (picture and description at Amazon)

This week for Book Club we are making a road trip to Bowling Green to see our friend Marilyn who moved up that way.  We are all very excited!

Happy Reading!

Melissa

Driftwood Bay (Hope Harbor #5), book #26

 

When we decided to read the latest Hope Harbor novel I realized I had never read this one, so I went and remedied that quickly!  It is just amazing that even though I have read these with months in between, I con go right back to Hope or and see all my friends in a minute :)  Oh, if only Hope Harbor was a real place!

After tragedy upends her world, Jeannette Mason retreats to the tiny Oregon seaside town of Hope Harbor to create a new life. Vowing to avoid emotional attachments, she focuses on running her lavender farm and tearoom--until a new neighbor with a destructive dog and a forlorn little girl invades her turf. But she needn't worry. Dr. Logan West is too busy coping with an unexpected family, a radical lifestyle change, and an unruly pup to have any interest in his aloof and disagreeable neighbor.  Yet when both Jeanette and Logan find themselves pulled into the life of a tattered Christian family fleeing persecution in war-torn Syria, might they discover that love sometimes comes calling when it's least expected? (picture and description at Amazon)

I'm already half way through the new one, but I don't want it to end!  

Happy Summer Reading!

Melissa

The Last Exchange, book #25

 

Ok, when I first started this book I wasn't sure I was going to like it.  I mean, I'm always up for a good mystery, but this one had me stumped.  The chapters were all titled either After or Before and it took me nearly 3/4 of the book to figured out what happened to make an After and a Before.  I read it pretty quick, despite the fact that it leaped back and forth in time, mainly because I kept waiting for it to make sense.  But if you stick with it, in the end it all becomes clear.  There weren't too many surprises once you started figuring things out, but it was still a good read in the end.  

When MacThomas Pockets finished his last tour as part of the Scottish Special Forces, he was hired to consult for a film director to finesse some scenes that weren't working. In a twist he never saw coming, he ended up moving to L.A. to work as the bodyguard for movie star Maybe Joe Sue.  It didn't take long for Pockets to realize there were two Joe Sues: The Joe Sue the public saw with her perfect life and her Hollywood husband. And the private Joe Sue: the one with the traumatic youth that no amount of pills could cover up, who desperately wanted a child of her own.  Even after their paths diverged, he continued to track Joe Sue's life. Only a few would notice when the bottom fell out. But he did. And that's when he stepped in. (picture and description at Amazon)

I'm debating picking up a non-fiction for next time, but I'm just not sure yet.  I'm excited about our book for Book Club, but we aren't meeting until later in the month, so I feel like I could for sure squeeze in another book before I read that one.

Happy Reading!

Melissa

The Best Summer of our Lives, book #24

 

This book had been on my Amazon Books list for a while, because who doesn't like a good book by Rachel Hauck?, and my sweet Katie got it for me for my birthday.  I couldn't wait to get into it, and now that it is finally summer I "dove" right in.  10 stars ~ go read it!

Twenty years ago, the summer of '77 was supposed to be the best summer of Summer Wilde's life. She and her best friends, Spring, Autumn, and Snow--the Four Seasons--had big plans.  But those plans never had a chance. After a teenage prank gone awry, the Seasons found themselves on a bus to Tumbleweed, "Nowhere," Oklahoma, to spend eight weeks as camp counselors. All four of them arrived with hidden secrets and buried fears, and the events that unfolded in those two months forever altered their friendships, their lives, and their futures.  Now, thirtysomething, Summer is at a crossroads. When her latest girl band leaves her in a motel outside Tulsa, she is forced to face the shadows of her past. Returning to the place where everything changed, she soon learns Tumbleweed is more than a town she never wanted to see again. It's a place for healing, for reconciling the past with the present, and for finally listening to love's voice. (Picture and description at Amazon)

Happy Summer Reading!

Melissa

The Hideaway, book #23

 

I'm happy to report that this book ended up better than I originally thought.  Yes, it sounded like, as Katie said, many other books I've read, but it all came together nicely.  The thing that I didn't like about this book personally, is the lack to God/Jesus.  I may have been mistaken that she was a Christian fiction author, but it was published by Thomas Nelson.  

When her grandmother’s will wrenches Sara back to her small hometown of Sweet Bay, Alabama, she must face family secrets and difficult choices. In the South, family is always more complicated than it seems.  After her last remaining family member dies, Sara Jenkins goes home to The Hideaway, her grandmother Mags’s ramshackle B&B in Sweet Bay. She intends to quickly tie up loose ends then return to her busy life and thriving antique shop in New Orleans. Instead, she learns Mags has willed The Hideaway to her and charged her with renovating it—no small task considering her grandmother’s best friends, a motley crew of senior citizens, still live there.  Rather than hurrying back to New Orleans, Sara stays in Sweet Bay and begins the biggest house-rehabbing project of her career. Amid drywall dust, old memories, and a charming contractor, she discovers that slipping back into life at The Hideaway is easier than she expected.  Then she discovers a box Mags left in the attic with clues to a life Sara never imagined for her grandmother. With help from Mags’s friends, Sara begins to piece together the mysterious life of bravery, passion, and choices that changed her grandmother’s destiny in both marvelous and devastating ways.  When an opportunistic land developer threatens to seize The Hideaway, Sara is forced to make a choice—stay in Sweet Bay and fight for the house and the people she’s grown to love or leave again and return to her successful but solitary life in New Orleans. (picture and description at Amazon)

I have gotten a fair amount of rest from our big weekend and the months leading up to it, but I feel my laziness kicks in way too quick.  I always try to find a balance in these few weeks I have off.

Keep Reading!

O:)

Melissa

Love Finds You ... in Lonesome Prairie, Montana, book #22

 

This takes us back to the pioneers & indians and it was a really good read.  The description below doesn't really do it justice, just trust me it's a good one.

In 1890, Julia Cavanaugh travels west from New York City to unite orphans in her care with new families.  Imagine her horror when she discovers that she’s to be “delivered,” too–as bride to an uncouth miner! But with no return fare, Julia’s options are bleak.  What does God have planned for her on the lonesome prairies of Montana? (picture and description at Amazon)

Not sure the next book I've already started will be as good, but we shall see.  

In other news, these two lovebirds got married last weekend! 😊I've never in my life seen two people so happy at the their wedding and laughing with joy all day long.

Keep Reading!

Melissa

The Wedding Machine, book #21

 

If I've said it once this year, I've said it a million times.  Don't judge a book by it's cover!  This one looked like a fun read ~ perfect since Leah's wedding is coming up in just one week! - and it even sounded cute too.  

But alas .... not a BAD book, just not as silly and funny as I thought it would be.  Much deeper than I imagined.  

Welcome to Jasper, South Carolina. A place where Southern hospitality thrives. Where social occasions are done right. And where, for generations, the four most upstanding ladies of this community ensure that the daughters of Jasper are married in the proper manner.  Friends from school days, "the gals" have long pooled their silver, china, and know-how to pull off beautiful events. They're a force of nature, a well-oiled machine. But the wedding machine's gears start to stick during the summer their own daughters line up to tie the knot. In the lowcountry heat and humidity, tempers flare, old secrets leak out . . . and both love and gardenias bloom in unlikely places. (picture and description at Amazon)

Next up I'm back out west, with orphans and maybe a bride?

Happy summer reading!

Melissa

A Bride for a Bit, book #20

Remember me telling you to just keep reading?  Well, this one was another absolutely amazing book!  Even though I read a few I didn't particularly care of so far this year, the last book and this one are quickly making up for it!  

I knew this book was going to be super fun and I was not entirely disappointed.  It is a "series" book of sorts ~ there are stories about four different sisters and there were four different authors.  It is always interesting to read a continuing story, where one author picks up where another ends.  The last story was not my favorite, I just felt like the characters were not fleshed out enough and the action was really short.  But all in all I would recommend it!

Misreading an order for bridles, a New England farmer sends his four sisters-in-law as mail-order brides to Lickwind, Wyoming. When the four women step off the train, astonishment turns to mayhem as the men of the town suddenly spruce up and make time for courting. Since James Collingswood - still without tack for his horses - can't afford train tickets to send the women back, they'll have to stay. But what future is there in Lickwind for: Matty, the sociable sister who irritates James' very soul with her unending friendliness to the eager men of Lickwind. Corrine, the mom-to-be still so pained over her young husband's death that she barely knows Luke Collingswood is alive. Bess, who insists that the town must have a church, reform the brothel women, and straighten up the saloon keeper, Gideon Rikers. Bertie, who can outperform any man she ever meets...until the mysterious Thomas Hardin becomes her personal protection agency. Under such absurd circumstances, the sisters will certainly find laughter in Lickwind...but will they also find love? One thing's for sure - the town will never be the same again! (picture and description at Amazon)

Not sure yet what I'm reading next, there is a nonfiction that has caught my eye, but with the next two weeks being a blur of finishing school and final wedding planning, I might just need to pick up a fun, light fiction.  

What's on your summer reading list?

Melissa

 

Secret Agent Father, book #19

 

Ok yes, I full on expected cheesy with this book.  It's a small book, only 216 pages and the description sounded so-so.  BUT AGAIN, let's not judge a book by that!!  I was pleasantly surprised that this was a really, really good book!  I'd higly recommend it if you can find it.

Although he’s never met the boy who arrives on his doorstep, undercover DEA agent Alex McCade can’t deny the truth. The four-year-old is his child, and—like father, like son—little Cody has landed himself in the middle of a dangerous situation.  Cody is the only one who can identify his mother’s killer. And the boy’s beautiful aunt, Shelby Jacobson, is hoping that Alex can help uncover the truth. Now, with a killer after his newfound family, Alex will do anything to keep Cody and Shelby safely by his side.  (picture and description at Amazon)

I've already started another one from the stack of my mother in law's books and it is a HOOT!  I'm only part was through and am loving every bit of it!

Happy Reading!

Melissa

Home Sweet Tiny Home, book #17

 

A little cheesy, a little predictable, but a quick, fun read none the less.

Kate Burrows has a life many would envy—a good job at a design firm, a huge house, beautiful memories of the late husband who gave her everything, and two grown kids doing well for themselves. But it’s all begun to ring hollow as she wanders around a house that’s too big for her. So when she gets caught up in binge watching a show all about tiny homes, something clicks—something that soon has Kate embarking on a whole new life.  Though some people call her crazy, she decides to quit her job and relocate to the small tourist town she and her husband always wanted to retire to, and to buy a tiny home of her own. The Lord seems to be paving the way, and she soon meets just the person she needs to help her get her dream going—and even growing! Hank Branson, architect and gentleman farmer, is quick to jump on board her dream to parcel some land off for tiny homes, and soon they have a community in the works.  But is Kate in over her head? How can she possibly uproot her whole life and chase dreams long dormant? Can Hank and his beautiful farm be as perfect as they seem? And what about their competition—the gregarious, confident Glen who won’t take no for an answer?  Kate may be moving into a tiny house…but it soon becomes clear she’s in for a big adventure. (picture and description at Amazon)

Can't wait till Book Club this week!

Keep reading ...

Melissa

Divine, book #16

 

Wow wow wow.  I've been suffering through books lately and not enjoying them, but this has made up for it!  In fact, I read all 350 pages in TWO DAYS!!!  It almost reminded me of reading Redeeming Love ~ you LITERALLY can not put it down!!  Go find this book and read it NOW!!

Mary Madison is educated and redeemed, a powerful voice in Washington, D.C. But she also has a past that shamed polite society. A survivor of unspeakable horror, Mary has battled paralyzing fear, faithlessness, addiction, and promiscuity. Yet even in her darkest valley, Mary was sustained from afar, prayed over by a grandmother who clung to the belief that God had special plans for Mary. Now a divine power has set Mary free to bring life-changing hope and love to battered women living in the shadow of the nation’s capital―women like Emma Johnson. A single mother fleeing an abusive relationship, Emma wonders whether there is hope for her and her young daughters. She is desperate, broken, and unloved . . . and tempted to commit the unthinkable. Then Mary introduces Emma to the greatest love of all, greater than any either of them has ever imagined. (Picture and description from Amazon)

We are in the process of cleaning out my MIL's house and she has A LOT of books.  I brought home about 2 bags full, so that should keep my busy with "real books" -- my goal for this year.

See what I say ... just keep reading, you'll get to a good one again!

Melissa

The Orchard, book #15

 

Not my favorite book by a long shot.  This could have been half as long without all the unnecessary details in every sentence.   

For generations, Ellie Hostetler's family has tended their Lancaster County orchard, a tradition her twin brother, Evan, will someday continue. Yet when Evan's draft number is called up in the lottery for the Vietnam War, the family is shocked to learn he has not sought conscientious objector status, despite their Old Order Amish belief in non-resistance. The faraway war that has caused so much turmoil and grief among their Englisher neighbors threatens too close to home.  As Evan departs for boot camp, Ellie confides her disappointment toSol Bontrager, the brother of her best friend and cousin to her new beau, Menno. In contrast to Evan, Sol is a conscientious objector. Despite Ellie's attraction to Menno, she finds herself drawn to Sol's steady presence as they work together in the orchard. Suddenly, it feels as if everything in Ellie's world is shifting, and the plans she held so dear seem increasingly uncertain. Can she and her family find the courage to face a future unlike any they could have imagined?  (Picture and description at Amazon)

Keep Reading!

Melissa

Lady of Milkweed Manor, book #14

 

I have read several books by Julie Klassen (see here, here, and here) and I even watched a "Book Talk" with her and a few other authors.  You have to be in the mood for Julie's books (they are thicker than most and take place mostly in the Victorian Era) but if you are, you are in for a treat!  I did not realize this was actually the first book she ever wrote, but reflecting back I can see where (even at 416 pages!) it is not as detailed as some of her others.  I still highly recommend it! (Funny note, I had a hard copy of this book that I read that I think I got at a used bookstore sometime, then later realized it is actually on my Paperwhite!)

Even a proper vicar’s daughter can make a mistake…and now Charlotte Lamb must pay a high price for her fall. To avoid the prying eyes of all who know her, she hides herself away in London’s forbidding “Milkweed Manor,” a place of mystery and lore, of old secrets and new birth.  But once there, she comes face to face with a suitor from her past–a man who now hides secrets of his own. Both are determined, with God’s help, to protect those they love. But neither can imagine the depth of sacrifice that will be required.  Sprinkled with fascinating details about the lives of women in Regency England, Lady of Milkweed Manor is a moving romantic drama about the redemption of past failings and the beauty of sacrificial love. (picture and description at Amazon)

Not sure what is up next, I've got a busy week or two with graduations, wedding showers, and work!  But I still want to find something for my few minutes of escape!

Keep Reading!

Melissa

A Cousin's Promise, book #13

 

Finally back to the books I love! :)  

Willkumm to the lush and lavish Amish country where Wanda Brunstetter’s new romantic series, Indiana Cousins, begins with A Cousin’s Promise. Loraine Miller finds herself torn between the love of two good men—Wayne Lambright who, crippled after a tragic accident, feels himself unworthy of her love; and Jake Beechy who, after having abandoned her to explore the English world, returns to renew their courtship. To which man will she pledge her love and loyalty—for better or worse, until death they do part? (picture and description at Amazon)

It is worth it to keep reading, even after hitting a book you didn't like!

Melissa

We were Liars, book #12

 

Don't ask.  I read it for a contest at the library.  I probably won't even win.  While I can see it why it was an award winning book, the story itself was icky.  Consider this a long commnercial break.  

A beautiful and distinguished family.

A private island.

A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.

A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.

A revolution. An accident. A secret.

Lies upon lies.

True love.

The truth.  (picture and description at Amazon)

Now back to regularly scheduled programming. 😶

Keep reading, even when you hate the book, because there is a chance it will redeem itself.  This one did not, it dropped the bomb at the end, but plenty of others do. Here's hoping the next one I pick up will be better. 

Melissa

The Blindsight of Grace, book #11

 

Don't waste your time.

Suffering is a refining fire for the soul. And twenty-two-year-old Grace Sinclair knows what it means to suffer. At the age of eleven, a brain injury from a tragic car accident left her unable to see. Then, her father was murdered in front of her older brother, and her mother lost her life to COVID-19. But although her world was shrouded in darkness, Grace chose to persevere and walk by faith—as any blind person must learn to do. If only her brother shared her reliance on God.  Travis Sinclair had been the cause of his sister’s blindness. He had been driving the car. He had run the stop sign. And his little sister paid with her sight. He would never forgive himself for that. And just before she died, his mother made him promise that he would take care of his little sister, no matter what.  After inheriting his parents’ home and a hundred and seventy acres in rural Tennessee, Travis spares no expense in preparing for the coming apocalypse. Post-traumatic stress has made him a doomsday prepper. With his store of provisions, his arsenal of weapons, and his underground bunker, Travis keeps spending money to prepare for the worst, despite the bank’s threat to foreclose on his property. But when he is falsely imprisoned for the murder of his neighbor, all hope seems lost.  Cody Blevins is a college criminal justice major and a part-time intern for the FBI. After a chance encounter with Grace, he becomes infatuated with her despite his better judgment. After all, this girl is blind. What kind of relationship could they have? But it doesn’t matter. He is drawn to Grace despite the challenges he would face with her. But when her brother is arrested for murder, and the local sheriff is convinced of his guilt, Cody knows that his chance meeting with Grace is no accident. God had put him there for a reason. He is about to have his first murder investigation. And for Grace, the stakes couldn’t be higher. (picture and description from Amazon)

Move along, let's see what's next ...

Keep reading, the next one has to be better :)

Melissa

Get Out of that Pit, book #10

 

So I had just finished my last book and was having a really icky week with work, life, all the things and I just found this book sitting on my shelf.  Who knows how long it had been sitting there, but I thought, "Hey, let's see what this is about!"  Now, it's been a while since I've done much with Beth Moore but I remembered I loved her Bible Studies and learned a lot from her, so I decided to give it a try.  

Well wouldn't you know, that book - chapter after chapter - really hit me right where I needed to be hit.  It's a pretty quick read, but it will change your life!  I read it like I was drinking out of a firehose because nearly every page was like God saying ~ See, I got you! ~ See, this is how you need to think about this ~ See, it's rough, but not the end of the world! ~ See, you CAN be rescued! 

Now I am ready to go back and sit and think and process more deeper the things that really spoke loudly to me.  

Beth’s journey out of the pit has been heart-rending. But from this and the poetic expressions of Psalm 40 has come the reward: a new song for her soul, given by her Savior and offered to you in Get Out of That Pit. This is Beth’s most stirring message yet of the sheer hope, utter deliverance, and complete and glorious freedom of God.  From her first breath of fresh air beyond the pit, it has never been enough for Beth Moore to be free.  This best-selling author and Bible teacher who has opened the riches of Scripture to millions longs for you to be free as well—to know the Love and Presence that are better than life and the power of God’s Word that defies all darkness.  Beth’s journey out of the pit has been heart-rending. But from this and the poetic expressions of Psalm 40 has come the reward: a new song for her soul, given by her Savior and offered to you in Get Out of That Pit—friend to friend. This is Beth’s most stirring message yet of the sheer hope, utter deliverance, and complete and glorious freedom of God:

I waited patiently for the Lord

He turned to me and heard my cry

He lifted me out of the slimy pit

He set my feet on a rock

He put a new song in my mouth

It is a story, a song—a salvation—that you can know too.  (picture and description from Amazon)

What is God showing you today?

Melissa

Line of Duty, book #9 -- SPOILERS!!

 

Well this was a page turner ... until it wasn't.  The first 353 pages were full of intrigue, mystery, sorrow, emotions while they were looking for the bad guy and processing all the grief.  But then! On page 354 BOOM! They figure out the bad guy is really the sweet old man no one would ever suspect!  And then just like that, the book is over!!  No clues -- no hints -- nothing!  What?!?!?  

At the request of her many fans—Terri Blackstock revisits the heroic cast of characters in this fifth book in her best-selling Newpointe 911 series In Line of Duty, a bomb explodes at the Icon International building in New Orleans while lawyer Jill Clark Nichols is in the top floor boardroom. The thirty-story building goes up in flames and fire departments from all around the area are called in. The firefighters from Newpointe are especially concerned since they know Jill is inside the building. Dan, her husband, rushes in to save her. But as firefighters work to evacuate the upper floors of the building, a second and third bomb explode, causing the lower floors to cave in. Firefighters and civilians are buried beneath the rubble. When the smoke finally clears, a count is taken. Jill narrowly escapes the chaos of the explosions and fire only to find Dan missing. Were the bombs the act of a terrorist, or a scheme coming from a heart of greed? Can Jill’s faith carry her through these long days of pain and uncertainty? And will Dan survive this tragedy . . . or sacrifice his life in the line of duty? (picture and description at Amazon)

I did not realize until I finished that this is a series (although I was suspicious!) and this is actually the last book in the series!  It was good, but not good enough to go back and read all the others.  Not with 400+ books sitting on my Paperwhite waiting to be read -- along with over 40-50 real books staring at me longingly as well.

Next up --- who knows!  

Keep Reading!

Melissa

Trouble in Store, book #8

 

Cute, Fun, I missed my out west people! :)

Fired from her most recent governess position, Melanie Ross must embrace her last resort: the Arizona mercantile she inherited from her cousin. But Caleb Nelson is positive he inherited the mercantile, and he's not about to let some obstinate woman with newfangled ideas mess up all he's worked for. He's determined to get Melanie married off as soon as possible, and luckily there are plenty of single men in town quite interested in taking her off his hands.

The problem is, Caleb soon realizes he doesn't want her to marry up with any of them. He's drawn to Melanie more every day, and he has to admit some of her ideas for the store unexpectedly offer positive results.  But someone doesn't want the store to succeed, and what used to be just threatening words has escalated into deliberate destruction and lurkers in the night. When a body shows up on the mercantile steps--and the man obviously didn't die from natural causes--things really get dangerous. Can Melanie and Caleb's business--and romance--survive the trouble that's about to come their way?  (picture and description at Amazon)

So excited to see if the others liked it!

Keep Reading!

Melissa

14 Fresh Ways to Enjoy the Bible, book #7

 

It was time for another nonfiction and this one has been sitting on my desk staring at me.  Since I am once again reading the Bible through in year (following the M'Cheyne Reading plan this year) I thought it may be fun to read this and see how it can help me delve even deeper.

The Bible is the most read book in all the world. But many of us get stuck in a rut when it comes to approaching it. Rather than feeling inspired and energized, we feel confused, disenchanted, or removed. Bible scholar and lover of God’s Word James Coakley wants to share fourteen invaluable strategies that will bring our Scripture study to life.  The Bible is historical, true, and it’s also great literature. The Artist who created the universe has also gifted us with His Word, which is beautifully designed and full of creativity. The same riveting techniques that modern authors use in their books were also used by Biblical authors long ago. Coakley opens our eyes to the dramatic and poetical ways God communicates to us. Readers will acquire practical strategies to engage in God’s Word and general guidelines that will keep them on track.  The literary skills mentioned in this book don’t require advanced training—just a desire to open and receive the gift of God’s Word. Would you like to unearth new treasure and insight whenever you open your Bible? Coakley promises an exciting ride and invigorating time in God’s eternal, life-changing Word! (picture and description from Amazon)

This is a super easy read, and if you are an English major you might even like it even more ~ it ties in many ways literary methods are used in the Bible.

Keep Reading!

MeLissa

Widow of Gettysburg, book #6

 

This was another book sitting by my bed that needed to be read.  The story itself was somewhat familiar -- Civil War battle comes to town, house with husband/dad gone turned to hospital for soldiers of "enemy" and women are required to become nurses.  The thing that made this one different was that it took place in the North.  Now, the whole Civil War thing is a little tricky for me, as my blood is very southern, but I also can't imagine anyone in my family being ok with slaves.  So most of the books I read about the Civil War typically do take place in the South.  It took some getting used to for the "enemy" to be the South, but it did remind me that there was heartbreak, death, and and just plain horribleness on both sides.

When a horrific battle rips through Gettysburg, the farm of Union widow Liberty Holloway is disfigured into a Confederate field hospital, bringing her face to face with unspeakable suffering--and a Rebel scout who awakens her long dormant heart.  While Liberty's future crumbles as her home is destroyed, the past comes rushing back to Bella, a former slave and Liberty's hired help, when she finds herself surrounded by Southern soldiers, one of whom knows the secret that would place Liberty in danger if revealed.  In the wake of shattered homes and bodies, Liberty and Bella struggle to pick up the pieces the battle has left behind. Will Liberty be defined by the tragedy in her life, or will she find a way to triumph over it?Widow of Gettysburg is inspired by first-person accounts from women who lived in Gettysburg during the battle and its aftermath.  (picture and description at Amazon)

Not sure what is next up, but I'm feeling it is time for another non-fiction book.  

What are you reading?

Melissa

Into the Fire, book #5

I was a little nervous at first reading this, since I hadn't read anything this intense in a while, but once I was sucked in there was no turning back.  Irene Hannon always continues to amaze me with her diversity in writing, from drama driven books like this one to sweet love stories like our Hope Harbor books.

As a former smokejumper, arson investigator Bri Tucker knows her way around fires. But after a mysterious blaze takes the life of a former colleague, Bri inherits a curious puzzle from him that raises questions about several fiery deaths. Someone, however, doesn't want her picking up where he left off in search of answers.  When she teams up with ATF Special Agent Marc Davis to solve the puzzle, the case heats up--as does the attraction between them. Sparks fly as the danger escalates, but will they manage to track down the person behind the mysterious deaths before their budding romance--and maybe even their lives--go up in flames?  (description at Amazon)

Starting a new book on my bedside table that has been there for over a year!  Not ready for another non-fiction yet, but this should be a fast read and we'll see what happens then!

Keep Reading!

Melissa